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‘Bleak’ housing prospects damaging young people’s mental health, report says
“Bleak” housing prospects are significantly damaging young people’s mental health, according to a new report.
The research, commissioned by Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), found that the housing crisis is also negatively impacting young people’s life choices, such as whether to have children or what jobs they apply for.
MTVH is calling on developers and decision-makers to urgently tackle the issue or “risk a generation resigned to housing insecurity”.
The report, titled Housing Futures: The vital role of home in young people’s futures, is based on national opinion polling that surveyed 2,047 18 to 34-year-olds. It also surveyed a series of focus groups and workshops with young MTVH residents from Nottinghamshire, Brent and Lambeth.
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It found that more than 60% of young people surveyed said that thinking about their future housing situation is affecting their mental health, while nearly four in five said the uncertainty around it is affecting life decisions.
Opinion polling revealed that three in five young people said thinking about their current housing situation affects their mental health, while 59% think they will have to move away from where they live now to be able to afford a home.
The focus groups and workshops found that young people want a secure home of their own, to be more informed about their housing options and given better financial education, and that they want to be heard and taken seriously.
They also said that new homes are often built without young people in mind.
“New homes need to be designed with young people living nearby in mind, and more has to be done to give young people an opportunity to access these homes,” according the report.
Geeta Nanda, chief executive of MTVH, said: “The devastating impact the failure to tackle the housing crisis is having on young people’s well-being is truly shocking.
“We know that having a home can be the catalyst for so many things in life – starting a family, doing well at school, putting down roots and contributing to your community.
“Yet, as we have heard from young MTVH residents and young people from across the country, there is real concern that the homes and futures they aspire to feel out of reach.”
She said “many more” affordable homes must be built, along with providing better support and education for young people.
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